Medical and Interventional Management of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is an autosomal dominant disorder of the blood vessels that leads to the formation of telangiectasias and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). HHT affects ∼1/5,000 people, but this varies significantly by geography and ancestry. The Curaçao criteria for HHT consist of four diagnostic criteria: spontaneous epistaxis, first-degree relative with HHT, AVMs in characteristic location (liver, lung, brain), and telangiectasias. Sequelae and major symptomology include recurrent epistaxis, dyspnea, heart failure, and stroke from paradoxical emboli among others. HHT patients are best cared for by a multidisciplinary team, ideally all with HHT-specific experience, but in this review, we will discuss the major aspects of the disease including etiology, diagnosis, and treatment recommendations.